Figure 1: Conceptual framework for rural infrastructure development Source: Badu, E. et al. (2013)
2. Relation to SDGs
The development of rural infrastructure naturally plays a central role in SDG 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.
3. Critical Views
A major expansion of investment in modern, clean, and efficient infrastructure will be essential to attaining the growth and sustainable development objectives that the world is setting for itself. Over the coming 15 years, the world will need to invest around $90 trillion in sustainable infrastructure assets, more than twice the current stock of global public capital. Unlike the past century the bulk of these investment needs will be in the developing world and, unlike the past two decades, the biggest increment will be in countries other than China.
At present, however, according to a leading think-tank the world is not investing what is needed to bridge the infrastructure gap and the investments that are being made are often not sustainable. The world appears to be caught in a vicious cycle of low investment and low growth and there is a persistence of infrastructure deficits despite an enormous available pool of global savings. At the same time, the underlying growth trajectories are not consistent with a 2 degree climate target. And climate change is already having a significant impact, especially on vulnerable countries and populations (2).
The foremost need is for national authorities to clearly articulate their development strategies on sustainable infrastructure, especially in rural areas:
Source: Bhattacharya et al. (2015)
4. Corporate praxis: philanthropy in China
Business and society are inextricably linked in China and corporate philanthropy is an important constituent of this link. Philanthropy connects to various historical, political, cultural, social, and economic dimensions in modern-day China and it occupies important functions conventionally associated with corporate responsibility (CR). Corporate philanthropy is an integral part of contemporary China, deeply rooted in the past and in contemporary relations between business and society. To understand the role of philanthropy in China today, one must have insight into the systemic relations between state and business, and the all-encompassing and state-managed drive toward economic and social development. Especially in rural infrastructure developments projects in China corporate philanthropy is a driving force.
In China today, particularly among large corporations, philanthropy continues to play an important role in defining the expectations and relations between the state, business, and society. Philanthropy needs to be understood as an important CR domain, especially in the Chinese business context. In this way, Chinese corporations are expected to leverage their financial resources to benefit and support the entire societal spectrum, from individuals and organizations, to society as a whole. Philanthropy is not only as a marker of business ethics in China, but also as a significant link between business and society. Philanthropy in China has a rich historical, ideological, political, social, cultural, and economic base, which business, the state, and society may draw on to determine the scope of expectations, responsibilities, and actions. These are not merely local characteristics but, as China and Chinese corporations continue to exert their power and influence, their practices will also influence the global business and political landscape (3).
References:
1. Badu E., Owusu‐Manu D.-G., Edwards, D.J., Adesi M., Lichtenstein, S. (2013) "Rural infrastructure development in the Volta region of Ghana: barriers and interventions", Journal of Financial Management of Property and Construction, Vol. 18:2, pages 142 - 159.
2. Bhattacharya, A., Oppenheim, J., Stern, N. (2015). Driving sustainable development through better infrastructure: Key elements of a transformation program. Brookings Global Working Paper Series; Washington, July 2015.
3. Bergman, Z., Bergman, M.M., Liu, B., Zhang, J. (2015). The Roots of Corporate Philanthropy in China. Journal of International Business Ethics, Volume 8 No.1, pages 3-28.
1. Definition: conceptual framework
Figure 1: Conceptual framework for rural infrastructure development
Source: Badu, E. et al. (2013)
2. Relation to SDGs
The development of rural infrastructure naturally plays a central role in SDG 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.
3. Critical Views
A major expansion of investment in modern, clean, and efficient infrastructure will be essential to attaining the growth and sustainable development objectives that the world is setting for itself. Over the coming 15 years, the world will need to invest around $90 trillion in sustainable infrastructure assets, more than twice the current stock of global public capital. Unlike the past century the bulk of these investment needs will be in the developing world and, unlike the past two decades, the biggest increment will be in countries other than China.
At present, however, according to a leading think-tank the world is not investing what is needed to bridge the infrastructure gap and the investments that are being made are often not sustainable. The world appears to be caught in a vicious cycle of low investment and low growth and there is a persistence of infrastructure deficits despite an enormous available pool of global savings. At the same time, the underlying growth trajectories are not consistent with a 2 degree climate target. And climate change is already having a significant impact, especially on vulnerable countries and populations (2).
The foremost need is for national authorities to clearly articulate their development strategies on sustainable infrastructure, especially in rural areas:
Source: Bhattacharya et al. (2015)
4. Corporate praxis: philanthropy in China
Business and society are inextricably linked in China and corporate philanthropy is an important constituent of this link. Philanthropy connects to various historical, political, cultural, social, and economic dimensions in modern-day China and it occupies important functions conventionally associated with corporate responsibility (CR). Corporate philanthropy is an integral part of contemporary China, deeply rooted in the past and in contemporary relations between business and society. To understand the role of philanthropy in China today, one must have insight into the systemic relations between state and business, and the all-encompassing and state-managed drive toward economic and social development. Especially in rural infrastructure developments projects in China corporate philanthropy is a driving force.
In China today, particularly among large corporations, philanthropy continues to play an important role in defining the expectations and relations between the state, business, and society. Philanthropy needs to be understood as an important CR domain, especially in the Chinese business context. In this way, Chinese corporations are expected to leverage their financial resources to benefit and support the entire societal spectrum, from individuals and organizations, to society as a whole. Philanthropy is not only as a marker of business ethics in China, but also as a significant link between business and society. Philanthropy in China has a rich historical, ideological, political, social, cultural, and economic base, which business, the state, and society may draw on to determine the scope of expectations, responsibilities, and actions. These are not merely local characteristics but, as China and Chinese corporations continue to exert their power and influence, their practices will also influence the global business and political landscape (3).
References:
1. Badu E., Owusu‐Manu D.-G., Edwards, D.J., Adesi M., Lichtenstein, S. (2013) "Rural infrastructure development in the Volta region of Ghana: barriers and interventions", Journal of Financial Management of Property and Construction, Vol. 18:2, pages 142 - 159.
2. Bhattacharya, A., Oppenheim, J., Stern, N. (2015). Driving sustainable development through better infrastructure: Key elements of a transformation program.
Brookings Global Working Paper Series; Washington, July 2015.
3. Bergman, Z., Bergman, M.M., Liu, B., Zhang, J. (2015). The Roots of Corporate Philanthropy in China. Journal of International Business Ethics, Volume 8 No.1, pages 3-28.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1ZMnEcILTQ